Joy to the World

It was Christmas afternoon.  The excitement of opening gifts was past, with the special joy of seeing everyone's eyes light up and hear exclamations of delight and/or squeals of unbelief for at least one surprise or hardly-dared-to-hope-for gift.  After a hearty brunch, Howard and I were relaxing on the porch swing in the lull before dinner preparations.

The weather had at last changed from muggy, mild temperatures following the heavy rains we'd had earlier in the week.  Now the sun was bright, and although the wind was sharp, the cushions of the swing sheltered us a bit, not to mention the warmth of my husband's shoulder next to me. A sense of peace and thankfulness came over me as I thought about God's goodness and about the reason for this special time of year.

It was if God's love was shining down on the planet as the commemoration of the birth of His Son was celebrated around the world, probably the only holiday acknowledged worldwide except for Easter, which marks the culmination of Jesus's earthly life and the provision for our eternal life. In this rarefied atmosphere that comes only once a year, I reflected on the happy crush of shoppers yesterday and the children out this morning playing with new outdoor toys in the beautiful, cold sunshine.

Despite Christmas's being commercialized, Santa-tized and over-sized, the spirit of giving prevails as people reach out to others in efforts large or small, and consciously or unconsciously, follow the divine example of giving.  And that's a good thing.  St. Nicholas knew and demonstrated that.  Even the story of Santa was given as a gift by a father who wanted to inspire wonder in his child.

The term, "Merry Christmas," itself is bestowed to wish joy.  Those who say, "Happy Holidays," are  saying, perhaps inadvertently, "Happy Holy Days," the origin of the word holiday, although most holidays today are just time off from work.

Close family gatherings and warm, fuzzy feelings are soon over as guests go home and everyday routine is taken up.  But if we have Jesus, the true meaning of Christmas in our heart, the joy can abide always. The scriptures teach how we may have eternal life and Christian fellowship that our joy may be full. I John 1:1-4.  Merry Christmas!